Urbana Mayoral candidate Les Stratton says documents obtained through a Freedom Of Information Act Request support his charge that the city’s redevelopment agreement for a downtown hotel went ahead with inadequate planning and funding from the developer.

A new session of the Illinois General Assembly begins Wednesday, when candidates who won in November’s elections take the oath of office. The outgoing class of legislators left the incoming one with quite a burden.

Lawmakers returned to Indianapolis on Monday for the start of their four-month session. The legislature is expected to take up a host of issues during their session, including gun control, a gay marriage ban, and expanding school vouchers.